Why do this when you can do this?
A pre-hurricane tax-free holiday on supplies will net you chump change (around $30 in saving per household) compared to what you'll get if you wait until after it hits:
Did you lose power when Hurricane Wilma blew through?
Rich or poor, you're probably entitled to free generators, chain saws and other disaster recovery items, courtesy of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
In all, you could take home up to $1,676.65 in free merchandise per household.
I agree with Taxpayers for Common Sense. There really does need to be a sliding scale for this, at least.
Wait, I take that back. I know y'all don't mind buying us generators. It's in the Constitution we should have them.
Posted by floridacracker at November 1, 2005 10:21 AMAre you sure it's only $1600? A coworker was reimbursed by FEMA for a Honda generator that cost $2800.00 right after Charley.
Posted by: Leighsah at November 1, 2005 07:30 PMMaybe they're trying cut back after the big give-aways last year.
We decided to forego generators because they seemed like more hassle than anything. You got lanterns, you got your little gas-grill hot plates for heating stuff up, you got everything.
Posted by: Donnah at November 1, 2005 07:50 PMYeah, as bad as I felt for people when I was down in Mississippi, I thought there was far too much "damage" that taxpayers are being asked to pay for. In a countryside where everybody already owns a chain-saw, the government is re-funding people for buying these? "Heck, Martha, we was wondering how to upgrade to that new Husquavarna and God sent Katrina. Good thing the house wasn't damaged when the trees fell on the driveway. And I can use our new FEMA-bought generator for my tool shed."
And FEMA will come clear your right of way for you (and IIRC, fenceline), too, if trees fell on it.
Posted by: Salt Lick at November 2, 2005 07:03 AMSure makes my own survival experiences seem odd, in that I cannot remember one person in our entire town/s who even thought to call FEMA after a hurricane. Everyone was too busy cleaning things up, rebuilding the damage.
Posted by: -S- at November 2, 2005 10:18 PMHow is it that people in snow/blizzard country aren't getting FEMA checks for snow plows, snow tires, maybe a new Jeep every five years...
Blizzards happen every year -- a common, weekly occurence in our first place in Colorado was having the entire lower story of the house completely snowed over...had to tunnel out the front door as routine every Winter, after many a storm. Never saw FEMA then.
Posted by: -S- at November 2, 2005 10:22 PMFenceline is expensive. I don't expect they're just giving out chickenwire. Lord.
Posted by: Donnah at November 3, 2005 05:08 PM